Revolving shotgun



Feb. 5, 1957 A. D. PARRISH REVOLVING SHOTGUN 4'Sheeos-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 3, 1954 All INVENTOR paee/s/ ALBE'E MOW ATTORNEYS Feb. 5, 1957 A. D. PARRISH REVOLVING SHOTGUN 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 3. 1954 INVENTOR ATTORNEY5 Feb. 5, 1957 A. D. PARRISH REVOLVING SHOTGUN 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 3, 1954 INVENTOR ZZO //8 ATTORNEY nitcd States REVOLVING SHOTGUN Application December 3, 1954, Serial No. 472,811 '7 Claims. (Cl, 89-158) This invention relates to firearms and more particularly to an automatically operable shotgun.

it is an object of this inventionto provide a firearm of the shotgun. type in which there is provided an instantaneous take-down mechanism manually operable by very slight movement enabling the barrel and cylinder to be detached from the frame and stock of the weapon.

it is a further object. of this invention to provide a revolving shotgun wherein the weapon is automatically placed in condition, to. fire consecutive roundsof. ammunition after the first round has been fired by taking advantage of the recoil of the weapon as it is being fired to place the Weapon in condition for firing by retracting the trigger. The shotgun of the present invention will fire each time the trigger is pulled until the ammunition carried by the weapon has been exhausted.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shoulder weapon of the revolving shotgun type wherein the normal breaking action of the shotgun will be locked securely and solidly into the firing position. Also, upon breaking of the weapon, the casings of the expended rounds of ammunition, or of unexpended rounds, will all be ejected from the cylinder in which they, are carried by the breaking action itself.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a weapon which is recoil operated and, in which only a very short recoil movement of the weapon is required for the automatic operation of'the weapon so, as to place it in condition for firing successive rounds of ammunition.

Another and further object of the present invention is the provision of a revolving shotgun which incorporates therein safety mechanisms whichwill prevent accidental firing of the weapon until such time as the weapon is in proper condition to be fired, or when the weapon is in proper firing condition, the weapon may'only be fired at the discretion of the user by selectively operating the safety mechanisms.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a revolving shotgun which is recoil operated and which may be quickly taken down for transport in the takendown condition so as to comply with the regulations of many states in this regard. 7

Another and further object of this invention is to provide a recoil operated, revolving shotgun which solidly looks into firing position and in which the rotating cylinder is locked against the barrel chamber each time the gun is placed in condition to be fired.

Essentially and basically, this invention provides a shoulder weapon of the shotgun type which has a revolving cylinder that is automatically operated by the recoil .of the weapon and in which the Weapon cannot be fired until the parts thereof are in fully locked position'for tiring and cannot be discharged by any other means unless the weapon is in fully locked position for firing.

Other obiects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description, forming the specification, and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

2,780,144 Patented Feb. 5, 1957 Figure 1 is a partially exploded perspective viewof a revolving shotgun embodying this invention, the barrel of the, gun being shown fragmentarily;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectlonal view of the central portion of the shotgun;

Figure 3 is a longitudinalcross sectional view of the stock portion of the shotgun extending to the rear, or to the right, of Figure 2, with portions of the shotgun shown in Figures 2 and 3 overlapping;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the shotgun adjacent the hinge pin on a somewhat enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the firing mechanism adjacent the ammunition holding cylinder as shown'in one position;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view similar toFigure 5 but showing the mechanism in a diflferent position;

Figure 6A is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a portion of'the firing mechanism chamber, as shown in Figure 2, with the mechanism in its cocked position;

Figure 7 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on line 7.7 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the cylinder locking plate; and

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the sear assembly.

With continued reference to the drawings, there is shown a revolving shotgun, generally indicated at 10, which comprises two major sections, namely, the frame and stock, generally indicated at 12, and the barrel and cylinder section, generally indicated at 14.

The two main section 12 and 14 of the shotgun 10 are. separable, and may be quickly and easily taken down or put together by the provision of a specially constructed hinge pin 16 siidably mounted for movement transversely of the gun in transversely aligned openings through the dependent cars 18, disposed in spaced relation, carried by the end block 26 of the barrel 22. The hinge pin 16 has a pair of opposed grooves cut' therein intermediate its ends to provide a flattened neck portion 24 which may be' moved into register in the space between the ears 18 by'shifting the pin transversely of the cars so as'to have the neck 24 enter into the narrow passage 26 of a keyhole slot 28 provided an assembly lug 3t? upstandingly carried at the-forward end of the frame, generally indicated at 32, of the frame and stock section 12. The neck 24 will then drop into the enlarged circular portion'of the keyhole slot 28. The hinge pin 16 will then be moved transversely of the end block 26 so that its circular portion will engage in the enlarged circular opening of the keyhole slot 28 and thus prevent accidental separation of the main sections 12 and 14 of the shotgun.

In this latter respect, it should be noted that as the hinge pin 16 is moved transversely of the barrel end block 20 so as hingedly secure the sections 12' and 14 together, that the opposite ends of the hinge pin will preferably be projected to opposite sides of the end block so as to be readily'available for movement in one direction or the other depending upon whether the piece is to be secured hingedly together or to be taken down.

The frame and stock section 12 includes the frame 32 and the stock, usually of wood, indicated at 34. The stock 34 is providedwith a bore 36 longitudinally therethrough and opening to opposite ends thereof. A sleeve 38 having an enlarged head 40 is disposed within the bore 36 with the head 40 secured to the forward end of the stock by a screw 42 having an enlarged head 44 extending into the firing mechanism chamber :6 soithat the sleeve 38 extends longitudinally within the bore.

The sleeve 3S and head 40 is formed as an integral part of the frame 32 of the frame and stock section 12 with the head of the sleeve defining a striker plate.

The sleeve 38 is received in the bore 36 within a hollow cylindrical liner 48 which extends longitudinally of the bore. The end of the sleeve 38 remote from the head 40 is provided with extenral threading as at to receive thereon in threaded engagement therewith a retaining nut 52 hearing against the end face of the liner 48 so as to retain the sleeve 38 within the bore 36 and thereby secure the frame 32 to the stock 34.

The recoil assembly, generally indicated at 52, comprises a recoil rod 54 received within the sleeve 56 of the recoil mechanism or assembly, with the recoil sleeve 56 being inserted Within the sleeve 38 of the frame 32 for sliding movement longitudinally thereof.

The recoil rod or plunger 54 is provided with an elongated, shallow recess 57 in which a pin 58 may ride in order to prevent rotation of the plunger relative to the recoil sleeve. The pin being carried by the recoil sleeve projecting inwardly therefrom to ride in the notch or recess 57.

The plunger is arranged to move longitudinally within the recoil sleeve 56 and has one end projecting longitudinally beyond the end of the sleeve and into the chamber 46, as clearly shown in Figure 2. Also, as shown in Figure 2, the sleeve 56 projects through a suitably formed opening in the head 40 and carries thereon a sear assembly, indicated at 60, disposed within the chamber 46.

A recoil plunger spring 62 is disposed within the recoil sleeve 56 with one end of the spring engaging the end face 53 of the recoil plunger 54, remote from the end 55 of the plunger and is contained within the sleeve 56 at its other end by abutting against the inner surface of the butt plate 64 carried by the sleeve 56 by a socket 64 in which the end 66 of the sleeve is received. The socket 64 having an integrally formed annular flange 68 at one end thereof to which the butt plateor base of the recoil mechanism is secured as by being riveted thereto, so that the plate or base 64 closes the open end of the sleeve 56 remote from the sear assembly 60.

The butt plate which defines a base or base plate for the recoil assembly 52 is disposed in spaced relation outwardly from the butt end 70 of the stock 34 and carries a pair of upstanding guide fins 72 and 74 which extend from opposite ends of the plate longitudinally thereof and between the respective opposite ends and the socket 64. ,The fins 72 and 74 are received in guide slots provided along opposite longitudinal edges of the stock butt andv opening to the end face thereof so that the fins may move therein, these guide slots being indicated at 76 and 78 respectively and disposed along the medial vertical plane through the stock.

A boot, generally indicated at 80, and preferably made of leather and including a fiber-like insert 82 is secured to the plate 64 by screws 84 so as to surround the plate 64 and the butt end 70 of the stock so as to cover the space between the butt end of the stock and the plate 65 in surrounding relation thereto.

A bore 86 is drilled into the butt end of the stock and opening to a hollowed-out recess portion in the butt end to define a well in which a recoil spring 88 is inserted. The recoil spring 88 is maintained within the bore 86 by a retaining nut 90, with a recoil spring guide rod 92 having a semi-spherical head 93 inserted through the retaining nut and received within the coils of the spring 88 with the head 93 disposed outwardly from the retaining nut 90. The retaining nut is disposed with in a cut-out portion in the guide pin 72 with the inner edge of this cut-out being provided with an arcuate recess receiving the head 93 of the recoil spring guide rod 92 so that the guide rod will be maintained in place in the coils of the spring 88, and also which will permit the spring 88 to exert resilient force against the fin 4 72 to maintain the base plate 64 in its spaced relation to the butt end 70 of the stock. This, in turn, will maintain the recoil assembly 52 in a retracted position.

The spring 62 normally urges the recoil plunger forwardly, that is in a direction away from the butt end of the stock, but is not sufiicient to overcome the stronger spring 88 to maintain the recoil assembly and the recoil plunger in a retracted position.

Turning now to the trigger group, which includes the sear assembly 60, it .will be seen that the sear assembly comprises a central sear block 94 (see Figure 9) having a central bore 96 centrally the'rethrough to receive one end 56 of the recoil sleeve 56 therein. The block 94 is secured upon the sleeve 56 by a set screw 98 threadingly received in a suitably internally threaded opening 100 opening to the top of the block 94 so that the set screw may contact the outer surface of the sleeve 56 since the opening 100 also opens into the bore 96.

The sear itself, indicated at 102, is of generally U- shaped formation and includes a back plate or web 104 which is adapted to be placed in face to face engagement with one side. of the sear block 94 with the sear block received between the opposite, spaced parallel legs 106 and 108 of the sear. The outer face of the web or back plate 104 is adapted to ride along the inner surface 7 of the side wall 109 of the firing mechanism chamber 46 carried by the frame 32, and will thereby be kept in place on the sear block.

Each of the legs 106 and 108 of the sear are provided with arcuate cut-out portions so as not to interfere with the recoil sleeve entering the bore 96 at one end and the end 55 of the plunger extending outwardly from the Other end thereof.

The leg 106 of the sear 102 is provided with a tooth 110 formed adjacent the upper edge of the arcuate opening therein which is adapted to engage in a detent 112 defined by a shoulder provided adjacent the terminal end of the end portion 55 of the plunger 54. Thus, from the position shown in Figure 2, the sear assembly 60 will move forwardly, that is toward the barrel 22 and cylinder 23 by the action of the recoil mechanism as the gun is fired so that the tooth 110 will engage behind the shoulder or detent 112, and the action of the recoil spring 88 will cause retraction of the engaged sear assembly and recoil plunger 54 to a cocked position wherein the leg 108 of the sear is contacting the head 44 of the striker plate screw 42 against the resilience of the recoil plunger spring 62 as shown in Figure 6A. In Figure 6, there is shown the position of the sear assembly 60 as it is moved forwardly with the recoil sleeve 56 so as to engage behind the shoulder or detent 110 and is pressed into engagement therewith by a leaf spring 114 by the barrel lock and firing pin assembly, generally indicated at 116, with the leaf spring 114 extending downwardly and forwardly in the chamber 46.

The terminal end portion of the end 55 of the plunger rod defines a firing pin striker, as will presently appear.

In addition to the sear assembly 60, the trigger group includes the trigger assembly which forms the sear release means. i

The trigger assembly includes a manually operable trigger 118 pivotally mounted in the longitudinally extending floor plate 120 upon the forward end of which the assembly lug 30 is carried, adjacent the end of the floor plate remote from the assembly lug 30. The sear release lever 122 is carried by the trigger 118 so that its lower cam portion 124 will cause the lever to move upwardly against the effort of a wire spring 125 through a suitably formed opening 126 in the floor plate 120 so as to contact the lower transverse edge of the leg 108 of the sear 102 and cause disengagement of the tooth 110 from the shoulder or detent 112 to thereby permit sudden forward move ment of the recoil plunger 54 so that the terminal end face thereof defines a striker which hits against the head 128 of the firing pin'130 to cause the firing pin to-strike the a primer in the base of the shell in the cylinder 23.

The trigger group also includes a safety device, generally indicated at 132. This safety device comprises a base plate 134 secured by a bolt 136 to the floor plate 120 and within. the chamber 4-6 in overlying relation to the upper edge of the trigger 118. The trigger 118 is pro vided with a bore 138 therein opening to the upper edge thereof and containing a trigger spring 140 therein. One end of the coil spring is seated in the bottom of the bore 138 while the other end of the spring bears against the end of the base plate 134 adjacent the sear release lever 122. The end of the base plate remote from the end contacted by the spring 140 is arcuately bent back upon itself to define a socket 142 in which the barrel formed end 144 of a slightly arcuately formed upper plate 14-6 is received with the upper plate extending longitudinally of the base plate and superimposed thereon. A headed rivet 148 is carried by the upper plate 146 intermediate its ends so that the head thereof projects from its upper surface while the free end of the upper plate146 is curved upwardly from the base plate and is urged away therefrom by a leaf spring 150 interposed between the base and upper plates so that this free end 147 will contact one end face of a sear plug 152 received in a bore 154 in the sear block 94, the bore 154 opening to the lower end of the sear block and to the bore 96. Thus, the plug 152 will be urged upwardly Within the bore 154 so as to seat in a circular recess 156 provided in the recoil sleeve 56 adjacent the end face 56" thereof. Also, the free end 147 will engage in a detent 95 provided in the bottom face of the sear block 94 in the form of a shoulder extending transversely thereof.

Thus, the terminal edge of the free end 147 of the upper recoil lock plate 146 when engaged in the detent 95 will hold the recoil assembly in its retracted position shown in Figure 6A to prevent the recoil plunger 52 from advancing toward the firing pin 130 under the influence of the plunger spring 62 to have its striker or hammer end 55 strike the firing'pin, unless the trigger 118 is retracted. Hence, if the butt or bore plate 64 is accidentally hit on the ground or against anobstacle, the shotgun cannot discharge a shell since the recoil assembly 52 will be locked in retracted position.

As the trigger 118 is retracted, the sear will be disengaged to permit the plunger 54 to advance toward the firing pin. It will be noted that the portion 54 of the recoil plunger 54, adjacent the striker or hammer end 55, is slightly tapered so that as it advances toward the firing pin the plug 152 will be forced out of the recess 156 and along the tapered portion 54 of the plunger to bear against the free end 147 of the upper recoil lock plate 146. The free end 147 will thereby be forced out of engagement with the detent 95 to allow the recoil sleeve 56 and sear assembly 60 to move longitudinally of the recoil plunger in response to the recoil of the shotgun against the effort of the recoil spring 88 when the base or butt plate 64 is against a resisting surface such as the shoulder of a user.

A recoil lock safety pin 158 extends through an elongated slot in the side wall 109 of the chamber 46 so as to extend transversely of the chamber and across the top of the upper plate 146. The pin 158 is retained in the slot 160 in the side wall 109 by a retaining clip 162.

As the pin 158 is moved by finger engagement with its knurled head extending on the outer side of the wall 109, inits slot 160, the shank of the pin will ride upon the head of the rivet 14d and cause the free end 147 of the upper recoil lock plate to be moved away from the detent 95 and thereby render the recoil locking or safety device 132 in operative until such time as the recoil lock safety'pin is moved off the head of the rivet 148. I

The barrel lock and tiring pin assembly 116 comprises the knurled headed release and lock button 164 having an enlarged rectangular shank portion 166, adjacent the head while the reduced portion of the shank is secured to a support bar adjacent one end thereof. -The rectangular shank portion 166 is adapted to ride in an elongated slot formed by mating notches in the top inwardly directed flange on the side wall 109 and the similar notch provided in the top flange of a cover plate 170. The cover plate 170 being secured to the rear wall 109 by a bolt 172 passing. through an opening transversely through the cover plate and in aligned openings in the side wall 109 to thereby enclose and define the chamber 46.

The leaf spring 114, it will be seen, is carried by the support bar 1(8v and secured thereto adjacent one end by the reduced portion of the shank of the release and lock button 164, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

The support bar 168 is provided with a forwardly projecting tongue 174 adapted to be received in a complementarily formed recess 176 formed in the end face of a cylinder guard bar 178 extending rearwardly from the end block 20 at the upper end thereof. The tongue 174 will be engaged in the recess 176 as the barrel and cylinder section is moved about the hinge pin 16 into closing relation with the frame and stock section 12 upon movement of the release and lock button 164 toward the barrel and cylinder section 14 to securely lock the gun sections together.

A firing pin stop block 180 is carried by the support bar 168 adjacent its forward end carrying the tongue 174 and depends therefrom so that a shoulder 182 formed by cutting :a groove in the lower surface of the block 180 and extending transversely thereof to define a stop shoulder against which an upstanding lip 184 formed on the head 128 of the firing pin 130 will engage as the firing pin 130 is urged toward the stop shoulder 182 by a spring 186 disposed in 1a counterbore 188 of a bore extending transversely through a dependent leg 190 carried by the support bar 16% adjacent its forward end with the firing pin projecting through the bore 192 and the counterbore 138 provided in the bore at one end thereof. Thus, the spring 186 is contained between the annular bottom wall of the counterbore 188 and the adjacent end face of the firing pin head 128.

The frame 32 also includes an integrally formed upstanding Wall 1% carried by the floor plate 120 intermediate its ends and defining the forward end wall for the chamber 46. The wall 194 has a firing pin bore 196 transversely therethrough in coaxial alignment with the bore 192 so that thefiring pin 130 may project therethrough.

The break button and firing pin group also includes a cylinder revolvingratchet 198 in the form of a four pointed star wheel which is fixedly mounted on a cylinder-engaging shaft 260 having one end portion 202 thereof being of reduced diameter and journaled for rotation in the leg 19%: adjacent its lower free end. The body or main portion of the shaft 200 extends through a transverse bore in the end wall 194 and projects therebeyond with the other end of the shaft remote from the reduced diameter end 21. 2 being squared as at 204. A lock plate 206 is secured upon the leg 190 adjacent the lower end thereof by a suitable fastener, such as a screw, and engages in a notch formed in the reduced diameter portion 202 of the shaft 20% whereby the shaft and cylinder revolvingratchet is maintained on the leg 190 with the ratchet or star Wheel 198 disposed in the space'between the lower end of the leg 190 and the adjacent face of the end wall 194.

A latch 20;? is pivotally mounted on one side of the leg 190 for movement in a vertical arcuate path. The latch 208, as best seen in Figures 5 and 6, is provided with a notch 210 to retainably receive one end of agenerally U'-shaped wire. spring 212, the other end of the spring-being received in an aperture 214 provided, in the plate 40 so as to normally urge the latch 208 in its vertical arcuate path in a counterclockwise direction so that the forwardly projecting finger 216 will engage the forward end of an irregularly formed stop block 218 formed integrally with the end wall 94 at its upper end whereby the break button or release lock button 164 will be held in Open position until the barrel and cylinder section is moved into closingrelation with the frame and stock section. The latch 208 also serves to automatically trip the locking mechanism which secures the barrel and cylinder section in closed position by riding under the forward end of the stop block 218 and having its forwardly projecting tongue 216 engaged therebeneath. This latter engaged position is clearly shown in Figures and 6.

With attention once more directed to the trigger group and specifically to the sear release assembly, it will be seen that there is provided a trigger guard 220 which encloses the trigger 118 and is secured at one end 222 to the stock 34 by a screw 224 which passes through an elongated slot 226 provided in the end 22 of the trigger guard and extending longitudinally thereof and the screw 224 also passes through a reinforcing plate 228 inset inthe stock 34 adjacent the plate 46 and retained therein by suitable fastener means. The other end of the trigger guard, indicated at- 230, is formed as a housing of generally U-shaped cross section including oppositely disposed, spaced, parallel side walls 232.

A bolt 234 having a longitudinally extending guide pin receiving slot 236 in its head 238 disposed between the side walls 232 of the trigger guard, is threadingly carried by the floor plate 120 and the head 238 disposed therebelow. A guide pin 240 is secured at opposite ends in respective ones of the side walls 232 and extends therebetween and rides in the slots 236.

Thus, the trigger guard 220 may be slid forwardly and rearwardly longitudinally of the floor plate 120 and stock 34 within the limits set by the longitudinal extent of the slot 226. A trigger lock plate 242 is carried by the trigger guard 220 adjacent its rearward upwardly extending portion adjacent the end 222 and extends laterally therefrom toward the trigger 118 which is disposed in the opening 221 of the trigger guard.

The trigger lock plate has its free end edge arcuately formed and has a straight lower longitudinal edge receding therefrom to merge in an arcuate cam recess 244. The trigger 118 carries a laterally extending cam pin or follower 246 which extends laterally therefrom and to one side thereof so as to engage the lower straight surface 241 of the trigger lock plate.

As the trigger guard 220 is shifted longitudinally of the gun so that the cam pin 246 is engaged with the lower straight edge or surface 241 of the trigger lock plate, it will be seen that a trigger will be locked in position, that is, prevented from movement rearwardly so as to trip the sear and cause the piece to fire.

Upon shifting the trigger guard forwardly, that is toward the barrel and cylinder section 14, the cam pin will be positioned at the forward end of the arcuate cam recess 244, and a pull in the rearward direction upon the trigger 118 will permit the cam pin 246 to ride on the cam surface of the recess 244 to thus permit normal movement of the trigger 118 to fire the gun 19.

Hence, the trigger lock plate and the cam pin or follower carried by the trigger defines a trigger safety device whereby the trigger can be locked in an inoperative position to prevent accidental discharge of the weapon.

A star wheel or ratchet operating cam lever, generally indicated at 248 is disposed within the chamber 46 and has one slightly enlarged, generally circular end 250 received in a complementarily formed recess 252 in the side edge of the head or striker plate 40 so as-to be' mounted within the chamber 46 for movement in a ver tical arcuate path.

The central portion 254 of the lever 248 is of enlarged irregular form and has a cam slot 256, of the closed type, formed therein. A cam follower 258 canied by the sear block 94 and extending laterally outwardly therefrom to ride in the cam slot 256. A longitudinally extending finger portion 260 forms the remainder of the cam lever 248 and extends from the central portion 254 to the end thereof remote from the arcuately formed pivot end 250.

A cylinder lock and cam lever guide slide, generally indicated at 262, and shown in Figure 8, is disposed in face to face relation with the outer surface of the end wall 124 for movement therealong in a vertical rectilinear path.

The slide 262 comprises a slide plate 264 constituting that portion of the slide which is in face to face contact with the end Wall 194, and a side plate 266 carried thereby along one vertical edge thereof and extending perpendicularly therefrom. The slide plate 264 is provided with a centrally disposed, vertically elongated opening 268 transversely therethrough to permit passage of the cylinder engaging shaft or spindle 200, and a narrow passage 270 opening at one end into the opening 268 and at the other end to the top of the slide plate 264 to permit passage of the firing pin 130 therethrough. Side slide 266 has a lower portion 267 of somewhat greater width and is disposed below the lower end of the slide plate 264 and projects forwardly thereof, or to the direction remote from the direction to which the portion of the side slide carried by the slide plate extends.

The side plate is adapted to ride in a recess 272 in one side edge of the door plate 120 and abut against a shoulder formed thereby. Also, in the recess 272, a lower longitudinal edge of the cover plate 170 is received and properly positioned by a laterally projecting guide pin 274 adapted to enter an aperture 171 transversely through the cover plate 170 adjacent its lower longitudinal edge. The cover plate 170 is further provided with a cutout portion forming a recess 173 in its forward transverse edge in spaced relation to the shoulder formed by the recess 272 so as to define a guide groove or space therebetween in which the lower portion 267 may ride.

As best seen in Figure 7, the side plate 266 is provided with a pair of spaced, laterally projecting stop blocks 276 disposed behind the front face of the slide plate 264 with one of the stop locks adjacent the upper end of the side plate and the other adjacent the lower end of the slide plate 264. The free end 261 of the cam lever finger 260 is disposed in the space between the stop blocks 276 so as to move in a vertical arcuate path therein and adapted to move the cylinder lock and cam lever guide slide 262 from the position shown in Figure 6 to the position shown in Figure 5.

This movement of the guide slide 262 is the result of a movement of the sear assembly 60 and the cam follower 258 carried thereon caused by the recoil of the weapon after it has been fired. When the weapon or shotgun 10 is fired the striker or hammer end of the plunger 54 will be in engagement with the head 128 of the firing pin and the sear assembly adjacent the striker plate 49, as shown in Figure 5. The recoil of the gun will cause the recoil sleeve 56 to move longitudinally of the stock and project into the chamber 46 so as to carry the sear assembly 60therewith so that the tooth will engage behind the detent 112. This will cause the cam lever 248 to move to the position shown in Figure 6 by action of the cam follower riding in the cam slot 256.

The cam lever finger 260 is stepped as at 278 which is disposed below the star wheel or ratchet 198 and is adapted for operative engagement with one of the four projections on the star wheel or ratchet as the sear assembly 6fisecured in the detent of the plunger is moved toward the plate 40 along with the recoil plunger and recoil' sleeve by the action of the recoil spring 88 to assume the position shown in Figure 6A. I

As this latter movement is accomplished, the step or shoulder 278 will act as a pawl to operatively engage one of the projections on the star wheel or ratchet 198 and cause it to turn as the cam lever is moved upwardly by action of the cam follower riding in the cam slot 256. The rotation of the star wheel or ratchet 198 will be through an angular distance of ninety degrees and will cause the rotation of the ratchet spindle or shaft 200 so as to cause a corresponding rotation of the cylinder 23, due to the operative connection between the squared end 204 of the spindle 200 and a sleeve 280 disposed in the central longitudinal bore 282 of the cylinder 23.

It will be noted that the lower portion 267 of the side plate 266 carries thereon a dog 284 in the form of an embossment thereon, the upper edge of the dog adapted to engage in one of the four equally spaced grooves 286 in the end rim or flange 283 of the barrel 23 so as to securely lock the barrel in proper position wherein the fining pin 130w-i ll be in alignment with a shell or cartridge carried in one of the four chambers 290 in the cylinder 23.

Thus, it will be apparent that the cam lever 248 is operatively connected to the cylinder lock and cam lever guide slide 262 so as to move this slide out of engagement with the end rim 288 of the barrel, then cause the barrel to rotate, and finally again moving the slide 262 into locking engagement with the barrel 23. The space defined between the stop blocks 276 defines a guide means for the finger 278 of the cam lever. T he finger 278 will move so as to contact either one or the other of the stop blocks to impart sliding movement to the slide 262 transversely of the frame 32 in a rectilinear path.

A Wedge-shaped plate 292 is interposed between the front face of the slide plate 264 of the guide slide 262 and the end rim or flange 288 of the cylinder 23 so as to form a cover plate for the opening 268 and the passage 279 in the slide plate 264 to thereby keep gas leakage resulting from the firing of ammunition in the gun, to a minimum. The cover plate 292 is provided with a centrally disposed, downwardly projecting tit 294 received in a com plementarily formed recess 2% in the upper surface of the floor plate 120 so as to form a guide means to properly place the cover plate 292 with relation to the guide slide 262. Additionally, the cover plate 292 is provided with transverse openings 29% and 300 therethrough to permit passage through the plate of the ratchet spindle 26d and firing pm 130 respectively.

The cylinder 23 is mounted for rotation about a shaft 302 disposed within the cylinder bore 282 and secured in the end block 20. i

The shaft 302 is capable of sliding movement through the end block 20 in its longitudinal direction, and is provided with a downwardly and longitudinally projecting extension 3% formed integrally therewith.

The barrel 22 carries a pair of spaced parallel walls 304 in depending relation therefrom adjacent to the end block 20. -A pin 306 is secured at opposite ends in respective walls 304 and extends therebetween to be disposed in contact with the upper surface of the shaft extension 303, as shown in Figure 4.

An operating rod 308 having an enlarged head 310 is disposed between the walls 304 adjacent their lower edges and carries a generally U-shaped keeper 312. The bight or base of the keeper is disposed above the operating rod 3% in spaced, generally parallel relation thereto While the opposite legs. of the keeper are secured within the rod. A pin 314 is secured at opposite ends in the side walls 304 to extend therebetween and be disposed in the space between the bight of the keeper and the upper surface of the operating rod 303 betweenthe. legs of the keeper. Thus, the operating rod is carried for movement longitudinally of the walls 3%, and consequently, of'the barrel 22. This movement being limited by the distance between the legs of the keeper 312..

' A bell crank lever. 316 is rotatab'ly mounted between the walls 3% adjacent the forward end thereof upon a pin or arbor 31% extending transversely across the space between the Walls 394 and secured at its opposite ends in the respective wall 304. Qne end 32% of the lever 316 is, disposed adjacent the end of the operating rod 308 remote from its head 310 while the other end 322 of the lever engages the end face 301 of the shaft extension 303.

One kg 324 of an L-shaped plunger 326 extends into a bore in the shaft extension 303 so that the plunger is operatively connected thereto. The other leg 328 carries thereon a sleeve or collar 330 adjacent the leg 324 so that the leg 32S and the portion of the collar 330 extends within the open end of the spring housing 332. A coil spring 334 is disposed within the housing and is seated at one end against the closed end of the housing and seated at its other end against the end face of the collar 33%) with that portion of the leg 328 extending within the housing beyond the end face of the collar being received within the coils of the spring to act as a spring guide.

Thus, it will be seen that the shaft 302 is resiliently urged to move in one direction along its longitudinal axis and have the end 301 of the extension 303 urged into engagement with the one end 322 of the lever 316 thereby causing the other end 320 of the lever to engage the end of the operating rod 308' remote from the head 310. The head 310 will abut the end face of the floor plate 120, all as clearly shown in Figure 4.

As the shotgun 10 is broken about the hinge pin 16, the movement of the. barrel and cylinder section 14 will cause the end face of the floor plate to move the operating rod 308 longitudinally of the barrel and cause the lever 316 to rotate about its axis, defined by the'arbor 31S, and move the shaft 302 along its longitudinal axes against the effort of the spring 334. In this latter connection, it should be noted that the spring housing 332 is disposed between the walls 304 and carried by apin 336 extending transversely therebetween, the housing may be secured to the pin as by being welded thereto, or by any other suitable means.

As the shaft 302 is moved along its longitudinal axis and the gun is broken, it will cause corresponding movement of the sleeve 280, which is secured thereto by a threaded stud 338 (see Figure 2). The end of the sleeve 280 remote from the end secured to the shaft 302 carries thereon a cartridge or shell ejector 340 which is in the form of a circular disc having shell rim receiving slots disposed at equal angular distances thereabout to engage the rims of shells or cartridges placed in the chambers of the cylinder.

Thus, the ejector 340 will be moved away from the cylinder 23 as the gun is broken and it will move the sleeve 230, and Will ejectthe shells from the cylinder chambers. As the gun is closed to be placed in operating condition, the ejector 348 will move in the opposite direction since the spring 334 will urge the shaft 302 in the opposite direction and reset the ejector operating mechanism just described.

A forearm grip 342 is carried by the barrel 22 forwardly of the end block 2% by a screw 344 which passes through a suitably formed opening'346 in the forearm grip and enters an internally threaded opening in a depending forearm securing boss 348. The forearm grip will be in covering or overlying relation to the walls 304 of the ejector operating mechanism.

. While there are shownand described the preferred embodiment of theinvention is to be understood that the structure is susceptible to change and modification within the practicability of the invention and therefore should be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. .In a revolver shotgun of the break-down type having a frame'and stock section and a barrel and cylinder section hingably connected together, and a rotatable cylinder for holding a plurality of shells to be fired therein carried by said barrel and cylinder section; recoil operated means carried entirely by said frame and stock section and operatively connected to said cylinder for rotating the cylinder to successive positions whereby shells therein may be successively fired, said means comprising arecoil assembly including a spring urged firing pin striker carried by said frame and stock section for movement longitudinally thereof when the shotgun is fired with the butt end of the stock against a resisting surface, a barrel lock and firing pin assembly carried by the frame and stock section releasably securing said shotgun sections together and includes a firing pin for striking a shell in said cylinder, a trigger group carried by said stock and operatively connected to said recoil assembly for releasably securing said striker of the recoil assembly in a retracted position as it is moved by recoil of the shotgun to maintain said striker in a position away from said firing pin and said trigger group having striker release means for permitting said striker to advance toward said firing pin'to impinge thereon and move the firing pin to strike a shell.

2. In a revolver shotgun of the breakdown type having a frame and stock section with the frame atone end of the stock to extend longitudinally therefrom and a barrel and cylinder section hingably connected to said frame, and a rotatable cylinder for holding a plurality of shells to be fired therein carried by said barrel and cylinder section; recoil operated means carried by said frame and stock section and operatively connected to said cylinder for rotating the cylinder to successive positions whereby shells therein may be successively fired, said stock having a bore longitudinally therethrough, said means comprising a recoil assembly disposed within said bore and including a spring urged firing pin striker extending into said frame and movable longitudinally of the stock when the shotgun is fired with the butt end of the stock against a resisting surface, a barrel lock and firing pin assembly carried by the frame and stock section releasably securing said shotgun sections together, and incuding a firing pin for striking a shell in said cylinder, a trigger group operatively connected to said recoil assembly for releasably securing said striker of the recoil assembly in a retracted position as it is moved by recoil of the shotgun to maintain said striker in a position away from said firing pin and said trigger group having striker release means for permitting said striker to advance to ward said firing pin to impinge thereon and move the firing pin to strike a shell, said trigger group comprising a sear assembly carried'by said recoil assembly for movement therewith and adapted to releasably engage and secure said striker in its retracted position, and a trigger assembly including a trigger operatively connected to said sear assembly for selectively releasing said sear from its engagement with said striker.

3. In a revolver shotgun of the break-down type having a frame and stock section with the frame at one end of the stock to extend longitudinally therefrom and a barrel and cylinder section hingably connected to said frame, and a rotatable cylinder for holding a plurality of shells to be fired therein carried by said barrel and cylinder section; recoil operated means carried by said frame and stock section and operatively connected to said cylinder for rotating the cylinder to successive positions whereby shells therein may be successively fired, said stock having a bore longitudinally therethrough, said recoil mcans comprising a recoil assembly disposed within said bore for movement longitudinally thereof when the shotgun is fired with the butt end of the frame and stock section against a resisting surface; said recoil assembly including a recoil plunger having one end thereof defining a firing pin striker extending from one end of said bore remote from the butt end and into said frame, and resilient means Within said bore adjacent the other end thereof for urging said striker in one direction away from the butt end and longitudinally of said frame and stock section independently of the movement of said recoil assembly; a barrel lock and firing pin assembly carried by said frame adjacent said one end of said bore releasably securing said shotgun sections together and including a firing pin for striking a shell in said cylinder, a trigger group carried by said frame and operatively connected to said recoil assembly for releasably engaging and securing said recoil plunger in a retracted position against the effort of said resilient means to maintain said striker spaced from said firing pin, said trigger group having striker release means for permitting disengagement from said recoil plunger to allow said striker to advance toward said firing pin under the urging of said resilient means to impinge upon said firing pin and thereby moving the firing pin to strike a shell in said cylinder to cause discharge of the shell.

4. in a revolver shotgun of the break-down type having a frame and stock section with the frame at one end of the stock to extend longitudinally therefrom and a barrel and cylinder section hingably connected to said frame, and a rotatable cylinder for holding a plurality of shells to be fired therein carried by said barrel and cylinder section; recoil operated means carried by said frame and stock section and operatively connected to said cylinder for rotating the cylinder to successive positions whereby shells therein may be successively fired, said stock having a bore longitudinally therethrough, said recoil means comprising a recoil assembly disposed within said bore for movement longitudinally thereof when the shotgun is fired with the butt end of the frame and stock section against a resisting surface; said recoil assembly including a recoil plunger having one end thereof defining a firing pin striker extending from one end of said bore remote from the butt end and into said frame, and resilient means within said bore adjacent the other end thereof for urging said striker in one direction away from the butt end and longitudinally of said frame and stock section independently of the movement of said recoil assembly; a barrel lock and firing pin assembly carried by said frame adjacent said one end of said bore releasably securing said shotgun sections together and including a firing pin for striking a shell in said cylinder, a trigger group carried by said frame and operatively connected to said recoil assembly for releasably engaging and securing said recoil plunger in a retracted position against the effort of said resilient means to maintain said striker spaced from said firing pin, said trigger group having striker release means for permitting disengagement from said recoil plunger to allow said striker to advance toward said firing pin under the urging of said resilient means to impinge upon said firing pin and thereby moving the firing pin to strike a shell in said cylinder to cause discharge of the shell, said trigger group comprising a sear assembly carried by said recoil assembly for movement therewith and adapted to releasably engage and secure said striker in its retracted position and a trigger assembly including a trigger operatively connected to said sear assembly for selectively releasing said sear from its engagement With said striker.

5. In a revolver shotgun of the break-down type having a frame and stock section with the frame at one end of the stock to extend longitudinally therefrom and a barrel and cylinder section hingably connected to said frame, and a rotatable cylinder for holding a plurality of shells to be fired therein carried by said barrel and cylinder section; recoil operated means carried by said frame and stock section and operatively connected to said cylinder for rotating the cylinder to successive positions whereby shells therein may be successively fired, said stock having a bore longitudinally therethrough, said recoil means comprising a recoil assembly disposed within said bore for movement longitudinally thereof when the shotgun is fired with the butt end of the frame and stock section against a resisting surface; said recoil assembly including a recoil plunger having one end thereof defining a firing pin striker extending from one end of said bore remote from the butt end and into said frame, and resilient means within said bore adjacent the other end thereof for urging said striker in one direction away from the butt end and longitudinally of said frame and stock section independently of the movement of said recoil as- 13 sembly; a barrel lock and firing pin assembly carried by said frame adjacent said one end of said bore releasably securing said shotgun sections together and including a firing pin for striking a shell in said cylinder, a trigger group carried by said frame and operatively connected to said recoil assembly for releasably engaging and securing said recoil plunger in a retracted position against the effort of said resilient means to maintain said striker spaced from said firing pin, said trigger group having striker release means for permitting disengagement from said recoil plunger to allow said striker to advance toward said firing pin under the urging of said resilient means to impinge upon said firing pin and thereby moving the firing pin to strike a shell in said cylinder to cause discharge of the shell, said trigger group comprising a sear assembly carried by said recoil assembly for movement therewith and adapted to releasably engage and secure said striker in its retracted position and a trigger assembly including a trigger operatively connected to said sear assembly for selectively releasing said sear from its engagement with said striker, said barrel lock and firing pin assembly carrying rotatable cylinder engaging means for rotating said cylinder to its successive positions, a cam lever operatively connected to said sear assembly and to said cylinder engaging means for movement in an arcuate path in response to movement of said sear assembly with said recoil assembly to rotate said cylinder engaging means.

6. In a revolver shotgun of the break-down type having a frame and stock section and a barrel and cylinder section hingably connected with a rotatable cylinder for holding a plurality of shells to be fired therein carried by said barrel and cylinder section; recoil operated means for rotating the cylinder to successive positions whereby shells therein may be successively fired, said recoil means comprising a recoil assembly carried by said frame and stock section for movement longitudinally thereof when the shotgun is fired with the butt end of the frame and stock section against a resisting surface; said recoil assembly including a recoil plunger having one end thereof defining a firing pin striker, and resilient means for urging said striker in one direction away from the but end and longitudinally of said frame and stock section independently of the movement of said recoil assembly; a barrel lock and firing pin assembly carried by said frame and stock section adjacent the end thereof remote from the butt end securing said shotgun sections together and including a firing pin for striking a shell in said cylinder, a trigger group operatively connected to said recoil assembly for releasably engaging and securing said recoil plunger in a retracted position against the effort of said resilient means to maintain said striker spaced from said firing pin, said trigger group having striker release means for permitting disengagement from said recoil plunger to allow said striker to advance toward said firing pin under the urging of said resilient means to impinge upon said firing pin and thereby moving the firing pin to strike a shell in said cylinder to cause discharge of the shell, said trigger group comprising a sear assembly carried by said recoil assembly for movement therewith and adapted to releasably engage and secure said striker in its retracted position, and a trigger assembly including a trigger operatively connected to said sear assembly for selectively releasing said sear from its engagement with said striker, said barrel lock and firing pin assembly carrying rotatable cylinder engaging means for rotating said cylinder to its successive positions, a cam lever operatively connected to said sear assembly and to said cylinder engaging means for movement in an arcuate path in response to movement of said sear assembly with said recoil assembly to rotate said cylinder engaging means, and a cylinder lock and cam lever guide slide carried by the frame and stock section at the end thereof adjacent said cylinder for sliding movement in a rectilinear path transversely of said section for locking engagement with said cylinder as the cylinder is moved to its successive positions, said slide having spaced stop blocks projecting laterally therefrom to define a cam lever guide therebetween, one end of said cam lever disposed within said guide and engaging said stop blocks alternately as it is moved in its arcuate path to move said slide into and out of locking engagement with said cylinder.

7. In a revolver shotgun of the break-down type having a frame and stock section and a barrel and cylinder section hingably connected with a rotatable cylinder for holding a plurality of shells to be fired therein carried by said barrel and cylinder section; recoil operated means for rotating the cylinder to successive positions whereby shells therein may be successively fired, said recoil means comprising a recoil assembly carried by said frame and stock section for movement longitudinally thereof when the shotgun is fired with the butt end of the frame and stock section against a resisting surface; said recoil assembly including a recoil plunger having one end thereof defining a firing pin striker, and resilient means for urging said striker in one direction away from the butt end and longitudinally of said frame and stock section independently of the movement of said recoil assembly; a bar-rel lock and firing pin assembly carried by said frame and stock section adjacent the end thereof remote from the butt end securing said shotgun sections together and including a firing pin for striking a shell in said cylinder, a trigger group operatively connected to said recoil assembly for releasably engaging and securing said recoil plunger in a retracted position against the effort of said resilient means to maintain said striker spaced from said firing pin, said trigger group having striker release means for permitting disengagement from said recoil plunger to allow said striker to advance toward said firing pin under the urging of said resilient means to impinge upon said firing pin and thereby moving the firing pin to strike a shell in said cylinder to cause discharge of the shell, said trigger group comprising a scar assembly carried by said recoil assembly for movement therewith and adapted to releasably engage and secure said striker in its retracted position, and a trigger assembly including a trigger operatively connected to said sear assembly for selectively releasing said sear from its engagement with said striker, said barrel lock and firing pin assembly carrying rotatable cylinder engaging means for rotating said cylinder to its successive positions, a cam lever operatively connected to said sear assembly and to said cylinder engaging means for movement in an arcuate path in response to movement of said sear assembly with said recoil assembly to rotate said cylinder engaging means, and a cylinder lock and cam lever guide slide carried by the frame and stock section at the end thereof adjacent said cylinder for sliding movement in a rectilinear path transversely of said section for locking engagement with said cylinder as the cylinder is moved to its successive positions, said slide having spaced stop blocks projecting laterally therefrom to define a cam lever guide therebetween, one end of said cam lever disposed within said guide and engaging said stop blocks alternately as it is moved in its arcuate path to move said slide into and out of locking engagement with said cylinder, and a recoil assembly safety lock releasably engaging said sear assembly in its engaged position with said recoil plunger in the retracted position of said plunger to prevent disengagement of the sear assembly except by said trigger assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

